Malala Yousafzai

By: Amber Wiggins and Dimonelle Sessoms

Who is Malala

Malala is a Pakistani school pupil and education activist from the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhunkhwa province.

Malala was shot in the head for attending school.

More About Her

Malala was born on July 12, 1997.

On October 9, 2012 she was shot in the head by the Taliban.

Malala Day is on July 12, her birthday.

Malala was only 11 when she blogged to the BBC about living in Pakistan while the Taliban was threatening to close girls' schools.

She wasn't allowed to wear pink.

She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Girls around the world celebrate Malala Day

"So here I stand... one girl among many.

I speak – not for myself, but for all girls and boys.

I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.

Those who have fought for their rights:

Their right to live in peace.

Their right to be treated with dignity.

Their right to equality of opportunity.

Their right to be educated."

Malala and the Nobel Peace Prize

"Malala, 16 years old, has been nominated for the 2014 World's Children's Prize with John Wood."

"She started to speak out for girl's rights at the age of 11, when the Taliban banned girls from going to school in the Swat Valley"

"Malala defied the rules and kept going to school. Her life was under threat and at times she had to go into hiding. At age 14 Malala was shot and almost killed by the Taliban on her way home from school. But Malala survived."